Diabetic Eye Disease Symptoms

Diabetic eye disease refers to a group of eye problems that people with diabetes may face as a complication of this disease. All can cause severe vision loss or even blindness.

Diabetic eye disease may include:

• Diabetic retinopathy – damage to the blood vessels in the retina.

• Cataract – clouding of the eye’s lens.

• Glaucoma – increase in fluid pressure inside the eye that leads to optic nerve damage and loss of vision.

Diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of blindness in those with diabetes. It is caused by changes in the blood vessels of the retina. In some people with diabetic retinopathy, retinal blood vessels may swell and leak fluid. In other people, abnormal new blood vessels grow on the surface of the retina. These changes may result in vision loss or blindness. Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy are nonexistent in the early stages of the disease. Blurred vision usually occurs once the disease is more advanced.

Cataract symptoms include cloudy or blurry vision, halos around light, poor night vision and/or distorted vision. Although most people develop cataracts as they age, those with diabetes are at an increased risk of having cataracts and at an earlier age.

People with diabetes are twice as likely to develop glaucoma than those without. Glaucoma has very few symptoms in its early stage, so people may be unaware that something is wrong with them. This is why regular eye examinations for people with diabetes are so important.

Finding and treating these eye problems early, before vision loss or blindness occurs, is the best way to control diabetic eye disease symptoms. If you have diabetes, make sure you have a dilated eye examination at least once a year. To schedule an eye exam in Phoenix, contact Associated Retina Consultants at 602-242-4928 or associatedretinaconsultants.com today.